Problem overview:

     International commitments: International influence on various global environmental aspects, such as, biodiversity, climate change and hazardous waste has imposed responsibility on every country both developed and developing to comply with international agreements with the Philippines as no exception.

     Policies and measures: The following policy measures and programmes listed below are some examples of how the Filipino Government has responded to international demands.

Background in summary:

     Response to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer, 1987:

• Drafting of the Philippine Country Programme for the phase-out of ODS
  
  
• Passage of the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wasters Act of 1990'
  
  
• Granting of policy incentives to facilitate shift to non-ODS-technologies by the Board of Investment (BOI)
  
  
• Creation of the Programme Steering Committee (PSC) to provide overall guidance and direction for the development of the Country Programme; serve as forum for discussion of policies and operational issues, and, facilitate the efficient programming of resources
  
  
• Creation of a technical working group (TWG) to mobilize individuals and offices in the implementation of strategies and action programmes formulated by the Steering Committee
  
  
• A Montreal Protocol Secretariat which provides secretariat support to the PSC and TWG and processes applications for importation of ODS, has been established at the EMB.
  
  
• Issuance of Executive Order mandating the production and use of low lead and unleaded gasoline
  
  
• Formulation of clean air 2000' an action plan to improve the level of air quality by the year 2000
  
  

     Basal Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. Response includes:

• Issuance of DENR administrative order #28 which provides for the importation of recyclable materials containing hazardous substances
  
  

     UN 1992 convention on biodiversity. Response includes:

• Promulgation of the republic Act 7586 in 1992 known as the National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Law which provides for the establishment and management of the NIPAS
  
  
• Formulation of the Philippine Strategy for Biological Diversity Conservation (PSBDC) in 1994 in coordination with the PCSD Subcommittee on Biodiversity which provided the legal and institutional framework necessary to carry out a concrete plan of action to conserve and use biodiversity in a sustainable manner
  
  
• Creation of a National Biodiversity Unit (NBU) by the protected areas and wildlife bureau of the DENR to coordinate and monitor the preparation of the biodiversity country study, national strategies and action plans
  
  

     UN Framework convention on climate change. Response includes:

• Issuance of E.O. in 1991 establishing the interagency committee on climate change (IACC)
  
  

     Convention on wetlands of international importance. Response includes:

• Formulation and approval of the Wetland Action Plan
  
  

Peer Review Committee Good practice rating: (1 for the best, 5 for the lowest score)
Sustainability		Efficiency
3	Improvement in either the environment of economic condition with no harm to the other.	3	Cost efficient.
3	Sustainable over time (not one-off)	Process
Adaptability		3	Participation of the community
2	Location adaptability (can the project be done in other places?)	2	Participation of resource owners/users
2	Socio-cultural adaptability.	2	Partnerships between various actors (Governments, NGO, Academia, Private)
2	Level of development adaptability.	2	Degree of coordination and cooperation between government departments.
3	Style of government adaptability.	2	Ability to attract political interest/support
3	Degree of decentralization adaptability.	-	Procedures for feedback and review.
Comments on this example:       The Philippines, like other developing countries, has made certain adaptations to its policies and measures, along with governmental structures to show party members of various environmental international agreements, its commitment towards solving environmental problems. Although every country with industrial activities, contribute to the rising pollution level, advantageously, developing countries have not been expected to make major cutbacks, due to effects on development. Therefore, for developing countries, pollution cutbacks are based upon a countrys voluntary compliance to enforce its own regulations only. If developing countries do not feel the responsibility to reduce their share of pollution, surely, the targeted reduction level would never be met. Sustainability of the project:      International commitments: Although every country is aware and seeing apparent damages to the environment both nationally and globally, they still might not have as much will power as other countries to commit to solving environmental problems, especially the ones outside their countries because they have for more important issues to tackle such as economic development and poverty alleviation. Therefore, the international environmental conferences should not demand too much from countries that are still struggling with their own problems, but instead, should assist these countries in a way that they could participate to the international activities as much as possible. Adaptability of the project to other situations:       Process of decision making and implementation:      Policies and measures: What is the major concern here is whether the Philippine Government could actually implement the policy measures that have been established in order to comply with international demands. How and where is the government going to find manpower and financial support to enforce and monitor the policy measures. Cost efficiency: